WASHINGTON – A D.C. family is preparing to sue the city and a D.C. police officer after he allegedly took nude photos of their teen daughter.
The family was surprised to see officer Marc Washington at their door asking to interview their 15-year-old alone, says their attorney Scott Lucas. Especially after they had canceled the missing persons report they had filed when the teen didn’t come home the night before, he says.
“Using his authority, he ultimately ends up having her undress partially. Initially, he takes pictures and then has her disrobe completely and takes pictures of her,” Lucas says.
The teen’s mother did not know they were doing anything but talking until her daughter told her about the photos, Lucas says.
Prosecutors later found more photos of women, including minors, on Washington. He is charged with one count of producing child porn and D.C. police are investigating.
Lucas is preparing litigation against Washington and the District.
“It’s a complex matter. It’s going to be a prolonged litigation. We’ll start putting together a complaint in the next week or two. But it’s early on,” Lucas says.
Since the suit is separate from the criminal investigation against Washington, Lucas says it is difficult getting access to information while the government is building its case.
Washington served with the Metropolitan Police Department for seven years. After he was charged last week, Chief Cathy Lanier addressed the accusations.
“To learn of an allegation of this kind against a person who is sworn to protect our children, it is both shocking and disturbing. We are fortunate that someone came forward to alert us of this behavior to ensure that we prevent future victims,” Lanier says.
The case against Washington is not related to a prostitution ring allegedly run by another officer in District 7.
“The fact that it comes out of the same district, it speaks to the culture of management and command that was going on in 7th district that the officers over there were engaging in that kind of behavior,” Lucas says.
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